Suit filed against assisted living center

Published
12:00 am CDT, Tuesday, July 15, 2014

EDWARDSVILLE — A former employee of the William M. Bedell Achievement and Resource Center has sued the center and its director, claiming she was fired for revealing unsafe living conditions of its clients.

Angela Hummer of Wood River named the center and its director, Gary Osborne, claiming a housing unit for the disabled — which is operated by the center — had defective wiring and other problems. She claims that after she reported the conditions, she was fired on July 11, 2012.

“Hummer’s termination from her employment with the William Bedell Center is causally related to the reports and complaints of the above-referenced illegal activities to her supervisors,” the suit claims.

Osborne had no immediate comment.

Hummer also alleges that the property in the 600 block of Ridge Street had a leaking roof, mold, and leaking waterlines.

She is claiming that she should be awarded past lost wages and future loss of earnings and fringe benefits, past and future pain and suffering and damages for emotional trauma from both the center and from Osborne.

“Osborne acted maliciously with personal animosity against Hummer, and Osborne acted for his own personal interest, contrary to those of the William Bedell Center when he terminated Hummer,” the suit claims.

She is also asking for punitive damages against Osborne.

The two-count suit is asking for at least $50,000 in each of two counts. Hummer is represented by Michael J. Brunton of Collinsville.

Sanford J. Schmidt can be reached at 618-208-6449 or Twitter @SanfordSan.